This is the first of several videos that'll be posted on YouTube of the stringing room, so keep checking back.

Please don't ask for player information as current we're too busy to comply with request, dont have good internet access there, and can only access the net at out hotel where we usually return late into the night.

This is the first of several videos that'll be posted on YouTube of the stringing room, so keep checking back.

Please don't ask for player information as current we're too busy to comply with request, dont have good internet access there, and can only access the net at out hotel where we usually return late into the night.

Regards

Paul

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Paul, do you by any chance were issued to EPIC neon yellow propulse 3s?

Paul, where exactly is it? I may pop in if I go. Do you speak French if I may ask?

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Hi

as best I can describe, its near court 6, behind the main court in a public area called RG Lab 2050. Its accessible to the public along with some other fan stuff, and its where some of the players sign autographs.

I'm there until Sunday 29th, and no I don't speak French; although I can order a beer or 2 ;-)

as best I can describe, its near court 6, behind the main court in a public area called RG Lab 2050. Its accessible to the public along with some other fan stuff, and its where some of the players sign autographs.

I'm there until Sunday 29th, and no I don't speak French; although I can order a beer or 2 ;-)

as best I can describe, its near court 6, behind the main court in a public area called RG Lab 2050. Its accessible to the public along with some other fan stuff, and its where some of the players sign autographs.

I'm there until Sunday 29th, and no I don't speak French; although I can order a beer or 2 ;-)

Wow step 4 logo zone that dude was horrible at stenciling. He got more ink on the racquet then the strings.

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Having just looked at the video, I think you'll find that the ink on the frame was not put there by the staff member, but either by someone previous or when the player themselves stencil the racquet. This is more common where the racquet is a Babolat and the only marking is the 2 lines. Certainly the staff here (at Roland Garros) do a good job of stencilling all racquets, and 1 main objective of the way the process is set up is to provide an excellent final product for the customer/player.

1. Why does Babolat string team use bottom-up technique on crosses? This has been discussed at length on the boards, with arguments made for and against this method. I know ****, P1 and Wilson use an ATW pattern. I am not sure of Pacific. Technifibre also used the bottom-up method. So I'm not asking your personal preference, but more of what would Babolat say to a player who wanted to know why you use that method? Someone higher up obviously made the decision to use that method instead of ATW.

2. On the stenciling video, it shows a closeup of your knots(someones knots) and the crosses were tied off at the 2nd to last cross, even though it was rubbing against a main. I was always taught to use a double-back and tie-off 3rd to last cross in that situation as otherwise the main strings path is bent by the tie-off. Can you explain please?

3. I see Babolat uses stringers that also work with other stringing companies. How intensive is the training process to do it 'Babolats way?' I've done a training program with a stringing company that was incredibly intensive to assure that each stringer is inhaling and exhaling in unison. I am curious whether the stringers that work with other companies have a preference or try do it all the way Babolat has it laid out and to what extent stringing patterns are laid out.

1. Why does Babolat string team use bottom-up technique on crosses? This has been discussed at length on the boards, with arguments made for and against this method. I know ****, P1 and Wilson use an ATW pattern. I am not sure of Pacific. Technifibre also used the bottom-up method. So I'm not asking your personal preference, but more of what would Babolat say to a player who wanted to know why you use that method? Someone higher up obviously made the decision to use that method instead of ATW.

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Without going into too much detail due to you mentioning that this point has been discussed many times over, I will reply as follows -

While some racquets have been string bottom up, most have been either ATW or hybrid/2-piece. Where the rqt has been strung bottom up chances are that it was due to it being an on-court rqt, or it needed to be done asap. As it is an accepted practice the Wilson & Babolat's can be strung bottom up there is no problem here. Standard practice given to us was to do ATW where approriate, but circumstances may change that to a particular reason.

2. On the stenciling video, it shows a closeup of your knots(someones knots) and the crosses were tied off at the 2nd to last cross, even though it was rubbing against a main. I was always taught to use a double-back and tie-off 3rd to last cross in that situation as otherwise the main strings path is bent by the tie-off. Can you explain please?

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The tie-off you refer to is the correct position for this rqt. Personally on this type of rqt I would trim the grommet so that there's less chance of the knot touching the main, and I feel would be a better alternative to the double back method. The knot you refer to seems ok, but possibily a little close. I can't comment on the why it was finished as it was.

3. I see Babolat uses stringers that also work with other stringing companies. How intensive is the training process to do it 'Babolats way?' I've done a training program with a stringing company that was incredibly intensive to assure that each stringer is inhaling and exhaling in unison. I am curious whether the stringers that work with other companies have a preference or try do it all the way Babolat has it laid out and to what extent stringing patterns are laid out.

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In my experience when working with different stringing teams is that you follow what is directed by them, or the head/lead stringer. At this level all stringers should be experienced to be able to do different stringing methods, and apply those as required by each team.

Without going into too much detail due to you mentioning that this point has been discussed many times over, I will reply as follows -

While some racquets have been string bottom up, most have been either ATW or hybrid/2-piece. Where the rqt has been strung bottom up chances are that it was due to it being an on-court rqt, or it needed to be done asap. As it is an accepted practice the Wilson & Babolat's can be strung bottom up there is no problem here. Standard practice given to us was to do ATW where approriate, but circumstances may change that to a particular reason.

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the pattern was changed when the racquet needed to be done quickly? wouldn't this then be different from all other racquets previously done for the player?

I noticed on the you tube video part 3 that Dustin Brown's racquet was being strung at 32 kg mains and crosses, that is 71 lbs. Is that pretty common to string with that much tension? Seems like that would be like playing with a 2x4.

Wow, cool stuff...
When I was stringing for the TransAmerica in SanFrancisco, I thought we overdid it with FIVE stringing machines for two stringers. Little did I know it would triple in just a few decades. And having the secretary do the paperwork would sure allow us time to concentrate on just stringing the rackets.

the pattern was changed when the racquet needed to be done quickly? wouldn't this then be different from all other racquets previously done for the player?

anyhow, thanks for the great thread, uk_skippy! nice to see for sure!

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Hi, while I understand what you are saying, when the racquet is oncourt we need to get back as soon as possible, but appreciate sometimes it may not be exactly the same. Also, there maybe times when a player requests a specific pattern which may include bottom-up.

I noticed on the you tube video part 3 that Dustin Brown's racquet was being strung at 32 kg mains and crosses, that is 71 lbs. Is that pretty common to string with that much tension? Seems like that would be like playing with a 2x4.

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Yes, it is high and feels like a board, but there aren't too many players that high. We did do some for at player @ 36kg with TF blackcode 1.25! I've done a few players at 30kgs